We've probably all been there before: Stuck in a meeting bored to tears or our attention wandering during a phone call. Whatever the reason for your trouble staying focused, part of the problem may be you've got excess mental energy. One solution is to do something mindlessly while you listen, like fidgeting.

Entrepreneur recommends bring a small object you can play with or manipulate, like putty, to a meeting or similar situation. You may be able to focus your attention a little better by offloading some of that mental energy. Moving around and switching things up can also help:

In general, releasing excess energy throughout the day will help you stay on task. "The longer you try to focus on something without moving around, your mind will start to tire," Levrini says. To improve your focus, climb the stairs between tasks, pace while you talk on the phone, or simply change your environment throughout the day.

If you find your attention waning but it's not because you have extra energy, check out the article on Entrepreneur for other possible solutions.